Protection and display case

ABSTRACT

A protection and display case comprises a sealed display space, a load-bearing base platform, which includes a lower portion and an upper portion separated by a sealed horizontal separator. The base platform is sealingly coupled to the sealed display space in a manner such that the upper portion of the base platform is inside the sealed display space while the lower portion is outside the sealed display space.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Patent Application EP07425665.2 filed on Oct. 22, 2007, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure refers to a display case, in particular aprotection and display case, that is provided for housing and displayingobjects (typically objects of artistic or cultural value) inclimate-protected environment.

In these cases, maximum care should be devoted to the overall protectionof the displayed objects, which normally are both delicate and of greatvalue. The term “protection” is, therefore, to be intended here andbelow in a very broad sense; it comprises for example the maintenance ofpre-established climatic conditions (temperature, humidity) and theelimination of dangerous substances from the space around the object(dust, pollutants). Moreover, the quality of the display to the publicshould be clearly guaranteed.

When the objects to be displayed are very particular, the abovementionedneeds normally result in rather complex cases, often designed and builtfor the single specific use; these cases are therefore costly and hardto reuse for objects other than those for which they had been designed.

There is therefore the need in the field to have cases which are capableof satisfying the highest protection needs and ensuring a suitablequality of the display towards the public, while at the same time nothaving overly high costs.

SUMMARY

Consequently, the present disclosure regards a case according to claim1. Preferred characteristics are reported in the dependent claims.

More in particular, a case according to the invention comprises a sealeddisplay space and is characterised in that it comprises a load-bearingbase platform, which includes a lower portion and an upper portionseparated by a sealed horizontal separator, the base platform beingsealingly coupled to the sealed display space in a manner such that theupper portion of the base platform is inside the sealed display spacewhile the lower portion is outside the sealed display space.

The base platform can be appropriately equipped according to the needsof every specific use, using its upper portion for systems and devicesthat should be inside the display space (such as for example ahygroscopic material for the humidity control or a lighting body) andits lower portion for systems and devices which are better situatedoutside the display space, due to their capacity to alter the conditionsof the display space (such as for example a thermal machine or anilluminator).

The case production therefore becomes rationalized and facilitated, andis thus cheaper, since it becomes possible to build cases in a somewhatmodular manner: the same base platform can be used not only to supportdisplay spaces of different heights, but also and above all for housingdifferent systems or devices which are specific for every singleembodiment.

Typically, the case comprises fixed walls, at least one openable door,and a top, where, in some embodiments:

-   -   the fixed walls can be anchored and sealed to the upper portion        of the base platform and to the top,    -   the openable door can be mounted on the upper portion of the        base platform and on the top, seal means being provided for        sealing the openable door with respect to the fixed walls, to        the top and to the upper portion of the base platform, in a        manner such that the sealed display space is delimited by the        horizontal separator, by the fixed walls, by the openable door        and by the top.

In some embodiments, the top can be a simple sheet, also made of glassif deemed necessary for the display, or of a more complex structure, ittoo capable—like the base platform—of housing systems and devices.

In some embodiments, the case can comprise a lower door support groupanchored between the openable door and the upper portion of the baseplatform, in which the seal means are provided outside with respect tothe lower door support group; analogously, in some embodiments, the casecan comprise an upper door support group anchored between the openabledoor and the top, in which the seal means are situated outside withrespect to the upper door support group. In some embodiments, the doorsupport groups can be hinges (simple or complex), sliding systems ormore complex systems.

In some embodiments, the case can comprise a lighting system of thedisplay space, including at least one illuminator housed outside thedisplay space, at least one lighting body in the display space and atleast one light guide between the at least one illuminator and the atleast one lighting body.

In the present text, by “illuminator” it is intended an apparatuscapable of generating light, starting from energy of different types: anapparatus capable of distributing light generated from an illuminator iscalled a “lighting body” in the present context. In current applicationsand also in display cases, a lighting body can be directly associatedwith an illuminator; in such case, though, the energy dispersed by theilluminator in the form of heat energy during the generation of thelight is released in the same space where the lighting body anddisplayed object are situated. The object is thus not only illuminatedbut also heated. This situation is avoided, however, by separating theilluminator from the lighting body and connecting the two with asuitable light guide, typically one or more optical fibres.

When its presence is required, therefore, the at least one illuminatoris housed in the lower portion of the base platform and/or in anexternal space made in the top, isolated with respect to the sealeddisplay space.

When a continuous and complete air treatment (or treatment of a possiblegas different from air) of the display space is required, the case cancomprise a conditioning system of the air in the display space,including at least one air treatment machine housed outside the displayspace and an intake duct of treated air from the at least one treatmentmachine situated inside the display space; the at least one airtreatment machine is a cooling machine and/or humidity control machineand/or purification machine. The at least one treatment machine can behoused in the lower portion of the base platform and/or in an externalspace made in the top, sealed with respect to the display space; in thismanner, the heat dispersion directly into the display space is avoidedalong with the possible dispersion of polluting substances producedduring the operation of the air treatment machine, due for example tolubricant substances.

In some embodiments, the case can comprise an air circulation system inthe lower portion of the base platform and/or in the external space ofthe top, so to more easily remove heat and undesired substances producedby the systems housed therein.

In some embodiments, the conditioning system can include a reception boxof hygroscopic material, housed in the upper portion of the baseplatform, open onto the display space. The hygroscopic material,typically silica gel, can be provided for the climate control in placeof the thermal machine, or in combination therewith.

In some embodiments, the case can comprise stiffening beams arranged inthe upper and/or lower portion of the base platform, and/or in the top.Thanks to these beams, the upper and lower base platform portions canbetter support the entire case structure, in particular the openabledoor when this is of large size and thus relatively heavy.

In some embodiments, the upper and lower portions of the base platformcan be fixedly connected with each other. The base platform thus resultsfunctionally differentiated, with the possibility of housing thereinboth systems inside the display space (in the upper portion), andsystems outside thereof (in the lower portion), while it is mechanicallymonolithic and hence extremely strong.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics of the present disclosure will be clearer fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof anda variant thereof, made with reference to the enclosed drawings. In suchdrawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective section view of a case according to the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front section view of the case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged-scale, front perspective section view of the lowerpart of the case of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged-scale, cross-section perspective views ofthe lower part of the case of FIG. 1, with parts partially removed,taken along different vertical section planes;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged-scale, front section view of the upper part of thecase of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged-scale perspective view of only the top of the caseof FIG. 1, with parts partially removed;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged-scale perspective view of only the top of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged-scale, cross-section perspective view of the topas shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a section view analogous to FIG. 3 of a case variantaccording to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the figures, a protection and display case is indicated with 1 in itsentirety. The case 1 comprises a load-bearing base platform 2,surmounted by a display space 3, delimited by two fixed, vertical glasswalls 4 and 5, and a third fixed, vertical blind wall 6 (also calledback), a blind top 7 and an openable glass door 8.

The base platform 2 comprises a lower portion 11 and an upper portion12, fixedly connected with each other and delimited by a horizontalseparator 13. The lower portion 11 is formed with a metal latticestructure 14, provided with feet 15 for supporting and/or fixing to theground and diagonal reinforcement beams 16. The upper portion 12 isformed with a metal frame structure 17, sealingly closed on its lowerpart by the horizontal separator 13 and provided with diagonalreinforcement beams 18. A non-sealed support surface 19 closes the upperpart of the upper portion 12.

The top 7 is formed with a metal lattice structure 21 and comprises anupper space 22. Except for the space 22, the top 7 is sealingly closedon its upper part by a cover 23 due to the presence of two concentricseals 24; the space 22 therefore remains open towards the outside of thedisplay space, possibly protected by a grate (not illustrated).

The fixed walls 4-6 are anchored and sealed together, both to the framestructure 17 of the upper portion 12 of the base platform 2, and to thelattice structure 21 of the top 22. The openable door 8 is supported byan upper door support group mounted on the top 7 and a lower doorsupport group mounted on the upper portion 12 of the base platform 2;the two door support groups are of per se known type, for example theyof hinge type. A seal 33 is mounted between the openable door 8 and thefixed adjacent structures, or rather the frame structure 17 of the baseplatform 2, the lattice structure of the top 7 and the edges of thefixed panels 4 and 5. In this manner, the display space 3 is sealed whenthe openable door 8 is closed. The position of the seal 33 is peripheralwith respect to the openable door 8, such that the hinges 31 and 32 areincluded in the display space 3. The back 6 is provided withreinforcement beams 34. The case 1 then comprises a first illuminator41, housed in the lower portion 11 of the base platform 2, as well astwo second illuminators 42, housed in the space 22 of the top 7. Theilluminators 41 and 42 are of ventilated type, in order to more easilyremove, to the outside, the heat produced during light generation;alternatively (or in addition), specific ventilation systems can beprovided around the illuminators 41 and 42. The illuminator 41 isoptically connected to a first lighting body 43, housed in the upperportion 12 of the base platform 2, by means of a bundle of opticalfibres 44 which cross through the separator 13 in a suitable sealedconnector 45. Analogously, the illuminators 42 are optically connectedto two second lighting bodies 46, housed in the top 7, by means ofbundles of optical fibres 47.

The case 1 then comprises an air conditioning system of the displayspace 3. In the case 1, such conditioning system comprises two receptionboxes 51 of hygroscopic material, supported by the lower portion 11 ofthe base platform 2 so to be sealingly facing through the separator 13onto the upper portion 12, the hygroscopic material resulting inside thedisplay space 3; functionally, therefore, the boxes 51 are housed in theupper portion 12.

In the variant of FIG. 11 (in which parts corresponding to parts of thecase 1 are distinguished by the same reference numbers, marked withapostrophes), a case 1′ is shown in which the conditioning systemcomprises a single box 51′, housed in the upper portion 12′ of the baseplatform 2′ in an identical manner to the boxes 51 in case 1, and an airtreatment machine 52′ housed in the lower portion 11′ of the baseplatform 2′. The air treated by the machine 52′ is introduced into thedisplay space 3′ by means of an intake duct 53′, sealingly facing anopening 54′ formed in the separator 13′.

In other variants, not shown, the conditioning system can be entirelyabsent, or it can comprise only the air treatment machine and not thebox with the hygroscopic material; moreover, these components can alsobe housed in the top, facing the display space or in the upper openspace, depending on whether they should be inside (boxes) or outside(treatment machines).

Accordingly, what has been shown is a protection and display case. Whilesuch protection and display case has been described by means of specificembodiments and applications thereof, it is understood that numerousmodifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the claims andequivalents thereof, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described herein.

1. A protection and display case comprising: a sealed display space; anda load-bearing base platform, the load-bearing base platform including alower portion and an upper portion separated by a sealed horizontalseparator, wherein the load-bearing base platform is sealingly coupledto the sealed display space so that the upper portion of theload-bearing base platform is inside the sealed display space while thelower portion of the load-bearing base platform is outside the sealeddisplay space.
 2. The case according to claim 1, further comprising:fixed walls; at least one openable door; and a top, wherein: the fixedwalls are anchored and sealed to the upper portion of the load-bearingbase platform and to the top, and the openable door is mounted on theupper portion of the load-bearing base platform and on the top, the casefurther comprising: seal means for sealing the openable door withrespect to the fixed walls, to the top, and to the upper portion of theload-bearing base platform, so that the sealed display space isdelimited by the sealed horizontal separator, the fixed walls, theopenable door, and by the top.
 3. The case according to claim 2, furthercomprising a lower door support group anchored between the openable doorand the upper portion of the load-bearing base platform, wherein theseal means are provided outside the lower door support group.
 4. Thecase according to claim 2, further comprising an upper door supportgroup anchored between the openable door and the top, wherein the sealmeans are situated outside the upper door support group.
 5. The caseaccording to claim 1, further comprising a lighting system of the sealeddisplay space, the lighting system including: at least one illuminatorhoused outside the sealed display space, at least one lighting body inthe sealed display space, and at least one light guide between the atleast one illuminator and the at least one lighting body.
 6. The caseaccording to claim 5, wherein the at least one illuminator is housed inthe lower portion of the load-bearing base platform.
 7. The caseaccording to claim 5, wherein the at least one illuminator is housed inan external space made in the top, isolated with respect to the sealeddisplay space.
 8. The case according to claim 1, further comprising anair conditioning system in the sealed display space, the airconditioning system including: at least one air treatment machine housedoutside the sealed display space, and an intake duct of treated air fromthe at least one treatment machine, the intake duct located inside thedisplay space.
 9. The case according to claim 8, wherein the at leastone air treatment machine is at least one between a cooling machine, ahumidity control machine, and a purification machine.
 10. The caseaccording to claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment machine ishoused in the lower portion of the load-bearing base platform.
 11. Thecase according to claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment machine ishoused in an external space made in the top, sealed with respect to thesealed display space.
 12. The case according to claim 6, furthercomprising an air circulation system in the lower portion of theload-bearing base platform.
 13. The case according to claim 10, furthercomprising an air circulation system in the lower portion of theload-bearing base platform.
 14. The case according to claim 7, furthercomprising an air circulation system in the external space of the top.15. The case according to claim 11, further comprising an aircirculation system in the external space of the top.
 16. The caseaccording to claim 8, wherein the conditioning system includes areception box made of hygroscopic material, housed in the upper portionof the base platform, the reception box being open onto the sealeddisplay space.
 17. The case according to claim 1, further comprisingstiffening beams arranged in at least one between the upper portion ofthe load-bearing base platform, the lower portion of the load-bearingbase platform, and the top.
 18. The case according to claim 1, whereinthe upper portion of the load-bearing base platform and the lowerportion of the load-bearing base platform are fixedly connected witheach other.